Pulling Vehicles out of a Ditch in the Snow

[4570Man]

^ why wouldn't you want him to help propel his stuck vehicle some, and lessen the strain on yours? Other than him possibly driving into you (unlikely), I can't fathom why you would demand them sit there in neutral not helping. Enlighten me, perhaps?

That’s what I was thinking. I’ve pulled vehicles dead before but only when I was the driver and the operator. In more desperate situations when pulling dead was failing and I was by myself I’ve put stuff in gear and pulled on it. That’s kinda scratchy though. When I’m doing that I pull until it’s out of the worst of it and switch back to pulling dead.

 

[crazyal]

Around here lots of people ride bikes. that means most of them have receiver hitches on the back. That makes for a great place to pull from. I have seen my fair share of people do stupid things like put a chain around a lower control arm.

 

[Cycledude]

With all the traffic on that road there is no way I would have attempted to pull anything out of the ditch, just an accident waiting to happen.
Over the years yes I have pulled out quite a few stuck vehicles but it’s definitely risky business.
I live out in the country with pretty minimal traffic, it was 10 below zero one night and about 3am someone’s knocking on the door, it’s a younger fellow, says he ran in ditch could I pull him out ? So I get dressed and get in pickup to take a look at situation, he really ain’t that far out but he drove right over some pretty big brush so pulling him out backwards was probably going to cause very serious damage so I told him nope I won’t attempt it. Gave him a 5 mile ride home and on the way he told me his dad has a tractor and would pull him out the next day, well when we got to his house there was a tiny little Alice Chalmers tractor that I definitely knew would not pull his truck out of the ditch, the next afternoon they showed up with a really big International tractor and it took them over an hour to pull it out with that, they towed the truck away and I really don’t know what it cost to fix it or if it ever did get fixed. Judging by the tracks before he went in the ditch I suspect he may have gone in the ditch because of texting while driving.

 

[LD48750]

I definitely wouldn稚 hook up to anyone on a main paved road
On the back roads around here, I致e always used my truck and good sling strap with no metal hooks or ends
I actually keep a sling strap in my truck at all times

No chain, no cable, no metal ends, just fabric.
And always pull them out the way they went in, it痴 easier to follow ruts then make new ones

We broke a strap like that once... destroyed my tailgate.
Of course I have had damage from braking chains too.

I seem to have learned where NOT to go as I got older.

 

[airbiscuit]

I have pulled people out before and they are generally thankful. I have also pushed many people out of snowbanks. On more than a few times, an younger guy stands back and watches me shovel and shovel and never lends a hand. That kind of bugs me, but I try to take the high road.

 

[5030]

Just pulled a 1/2 ton pickup truck out of the pucker bush (snow packed ditch) down the road a bit, Was my neighbor so it was gratis and he hooked the strap to his front tow hook. Put the Kubota in fwa and pulled him right out sideways as a straight pull was impossible. Had him put it in neutral with the motor running so he could steer. Years ago I pulled a CJ7 out of the ditch but I used a chain then and had the owner hook it. Instead of using a tow hook or the frame he hooked it to his tie rod. When I popped him out, it did a severe wheel misalignment. Had to get a tow truck anyway, it was undriveable.

We have farm insurance not a regular policy so it covers everything farm related. It's farm related in a vague way.

 

[5030]

We broke a strap like that once... destroyed my tailgate.
Of course I have had damage from braking chains too.

I seem to have learned where NOT to go as I got older.

You need a stout strap and never hook over any sharp metal. The one I use is rated for 40,000 pounds pull.

 

[Reb954]

^ why wouldn't you want him to help propel his stuck vehicle some, and lessen the strain on yours? Other than him possibly driving into you (unlikely), I can't fathom why you would demand them sit there in neutral not helping. Enlighten me, perhaps?

Each case is different so I judge each case on its own merit.

In that case he was off in the mud but the roadway was dry so there was no doubt I could easily pull him out, but, where he was wildly spinning his tires made me nervous he would hit the back of me once he got traction. I also suspected he may be under the influence of something but where I can't smell I couldn't be sure. I also knew of the guy anyway and he had a tendency to go off half cocked and be erratic so I figured it was best if his vehicle was left in neutral. He only had a couple mile walk anyway to his house so it probably did him good.

There are other times I will have them leave their vehicle in neutral. For instance, if they are on a side hill. If their tires are spinning they will keep trying to go down hill but if the tires are just rolling they will tend to follow the hill up making it easier to get them out.

Part of it will depend on how savvy the person I am pulling is.

 

[LittleBill21]

straps really aren't designed for yanking they are more for pulling a vehicle along, you need a snatch strap something like a bubba rope or something that has elasticity so that the momentum is what throws it out of it stuck spot. down side to this is there a crap load of energy in this rope, you need to be careful, also should be pulling in the direction they went in, and with the drawbar side of the tractor.

they do make straps that can be wrapped around axles, i use those, but most people generally don't have those.

 

[PILOON]

Secret is nice and easy, no yanking and straight line pull.
I use my trailer hitch and make sure the patient vehicle is hooked to a structural member.

Also need to walk away at times but as a nice guy give him/her the local tow truck phone number.